Top 7 Tamil gangster movies that everyone must watch at least once: Dhanush’s Vada Chennai to Vikram Vedha

• Cast: Dhanush, Kishore, Samuthirakani, Daniel Balaji, Pawan, Andrea Jeremiah, Aishwarya Rajesh, Ameer
• Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar/Amazon Prime Video
• IMDb ratings: 8.4/10

1. A popular Tamil action movie with strong gangster themes is the film “Vada Chennai (North Chennai)”, starring Dhanush and directed by Vetrimaaran. The plot revolves around Anbu, a talented carrom player who unintentionally finds himself caught in the middle of a fierce gang conflict between two rival criminal groups.

As an ardent admirer of gritty gangster films and high-octane action sequences, I can confidently say that this movie delivers a unique, pulse-pounding tale of vengeance that’s not to be missed.

• Cast: Chiyaan Vikram, Dhruv Vikram, Simran, Bobby Simha, Sananth, Vettai Muthukumar, Deepak Paramesh, Aadukalam Naren
• Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
• IMDb ratings: 7.6/10

1. “Mahaan” is an action-packed gangster movie directed by Karthik Subbaraj, featuring Chiyaan Vikram and Dhruv Vikram as the main characters. The story revolves around Gandhi Mahaan, a man who was once a commerce teacher but transforms into a liquor magnate after his family abandons him.

Nevertheless, events spiral downward when his son, a fervent follower of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy, pledges revenge against his father and seeks to destroy him after a prolonged period. The movie’s core message revolves around the destructive consequences that can arise from taking any ideology to its extreme limits.

• Cast: Ajith Kumar, Nayanthara, Namitha, Prabhu, Rahman, Adithya Menon, Santhanam
• Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar
• IMDb ratings: 7.3/10

1. As a devoted admirer, I’d like to highlight an unforgettable film from Ajith Kumar’s repertoire – the gangster movie, Billa, expertly directed by Vishnuvardhan. In this Tamil masterpiece, our beloved actor portrays two distinct characters: a menacing don and his benevolent doppelganger who shares an uncanny resemblance. Remarkably, circumstances force the kind-hearted duplicate to assume the don’s identity, lending aid to the police in their quest.

The film is a new version, officially based on the 1980 film starring Rajinikanth, which in turn was inspired by Amitabh Bachchan’s Don from the same title.

• Cast: Raghava Lawrence, S. J. Suryah, Nimisha Sajayan, Ilavarasu, Naveen Chandra, Sathyan, Sanchana Natarajan, Shine Tom Chacko, Aravind Akash
• Where to watch: Netflix
• IMDb ratings: 8/10

In simple terms, “Jigarthanda DoubleX” is an exhilarating action drama film with Raghava Lawrence and SJ Suryah in lead roles. This blockbuster production explores the intriguing dynamic between a dangerous gangster and a filmmaker, serving as both a follow-up and prequel to the 2014 hit “Jigarthanda.”

In the 1970s-set movie, the story revolves around an ambitious police officer who is wrongfully jailed. But later, he’s given a second chance when asked to take out a dangerous gangster. He assumes a new identity as a film director to infiltrate the criminal’s circle.

• Cast: Jackie Shroff, Ravi Krishna, Sampath Raj, Yasmin Ponnappa, Guru Somasundaram, Master Vasanth, Ajay Raj
• Where to watch: Disney+ Hotstar
• IMDb ratings: 8.5/10

1. In a gritty, gangster-themed action film, Thiagarajan Kumararaja makes his directorial debut with Aaranya Kaandam. The story revolves around six key characters, with Jackie Shroff portraying the menacing character of Singaperumal, a powerful gangster.

In my advanced years, I still strive to outwit my longtime adversary, Gajendran. However, as the story unfolds, my schemes begin to unravel, leaving me in a precarious position. The remainder of the film is filled with unexpected events and tense moments, each one bringing us closer to the inevitable moment when chaos reigns supreme and my plans are on the brink of catastrophic failure.

• Cast: Rajinikanth, Winston Chao, Radhika Apte, Dhansika, Kishore, Dinesh, Kalaiyarasan, John Vijay, Rosyam Nor, Nassar, Mime Gopi
• Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
• IMDb ratings: 6.1/10

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: In the world of action dramas, I find myself drawn to “Kabali,” a movie by director Pa Ranjith. This captivating tale centers around the character of a charismatic gangster, brilliantly portrayed by none other than superstar Rajinikanth. The story unfolds as this seasoned criminal, who spent 25 years in prison on questionable charges, makes his dramatic comeback in Kuala Lumpur.

1. With the conviction that his wife has passed away, the elderly gangster embarks on a violent quest for retribution against his adversaries, resulting in a series of brutal encounters. The film unfolds the story of Kabali’s pursuit of vengeance and uncovers several hidden truths along the way.

• Cast: R Madhavan, Vijay Sethupathi, Shraddha Srinath, Kathir, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Prem Kumar, Achyuth Kumar, Manikandan, Hareesh Peradi, Vivek Prasanna
• Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar
• IMDb ratings: 8.2/10

1. An engaging action movie that skillfully blends elements of neo-noir is the film “Vikram Vedha,” starring R Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi. This film, directed by the team Pushkar-Gayathri, draws inspiration from the Indian folktale Baital Pachisi.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d describe it this way: I watched an engaging film about a devoted cop named Vikram. With a clear-cut distinction between right and wrong, he faced down any adversaries that dared cross his path. However, things took an intriguing turn when the infamous gangster Vedha entered the scene. Instead of confrontation, Vedha shared three compelling stories from his past. These tales subtly altered Vikram’s perspective on good and evil, making him question long-held beliefs.

1. Here’s a list containing some outstanding Tamil gangster movies you can stream. There are numerous other intriguing films featuring legendary gangsters, just waiting to be discovered within the realm of Tamil cinema.